Monthly Archives: January 2017

There was a new milestone reached in 2016: more than 33,600 organ transplants were performed in the U.S. This number sets a new record number of U.S. transplants for the fourth year in a row. The 2016 milestone represents an 8.5 percent increase in total number of organ transplants, and an almost 20 percent increase in number of organ transplants since 2012.

“What we are seeing in the donation and transplantation community, is perseverance,” said David Fleming, President & CEO of Donate Life America. “We have seen a commitment to continuously improve, educate and innovate over the past five years to save and heal more lives.”

The growth in overall organ transplants was largely driven by an increase of 9.2 percent in the number of deceased donors from 2015 to 2016, continuing a six-year trend of annual increases. In 2016, approximately 82 percent (27,628) of the transplants were performed with organs from deceased donors; 18 percent (5,978) were performed with organs from living donors. In 2016, the number of registered donors surpassed 134 million Americans, 54% of the U.S. adult population.

“In many ways, our results in 2016 mirrored those nationally,” said Alexandra Glazier, President and CEO of New England Donor Services. “We achieved a 19% increase in organ donation, achieved by participating in national efforts through organizations like Donate Life America and taking the lead in finding donors.”

“In 2016, more than ever,” said Fleming, “Donate Life America and the Donate Life Community worked to meet the public where they are, bringing the message and the donor registration opportunity to them on their iPhones, at the DMV, on social media and at events ‑ making registration trusted, easy and secure.”

Donate Life America wants to thank the donation and transplantation community for their dedication, and the public for their support. We celebrate this milestone in honor of all donors, donor families, living donors and registered donors who give hope and make LIFE possible.